Machine for inserting graphite composition in oilless bearings



Sept. 8, 1925 1,553,129

L.- BARTLETT MACHINE FOR INSERTING GRAPHITE COMPOSITION IN OILLESS BEARINGS a yz J I mmvros.

' hit. M 3? 2 2.9 BY ZemmnZBm-Z ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 8, 1925.

UNITED STATES v 1,553,129 PATENT OFFICE.

LEONARD BARTLETT, 0F SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 RELIANCE MACHINE AND SPECIALTY COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORA- TION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR IN SERTIN G GRAPHITE COMPOSITION IN OILLESS BEARINGS.

Application filed December 23-, 1924. Serial No. 757,770.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that. I, LEONARD BARTLETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield,'in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Machine for Inserting Graphite Composition in Oilless Bearings,'of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for inserting a graphite lubricating compound in the openings of a tubular member of what is known as oilless bearings which bearings are designed to take the place of the ordinary bearings that require lubrication either by the use of oil or greasecups. Heretofore, it has been acommon practice to insert the plugs or the graphite lubricating compound in the openings one at a time. This process is slow and not altogether satisfactory. The present inven tion relates to a device for filling all of the openings of the bearing member at the same time by means of a plunger which passes through a suitable hopper that is filled with the graphite compound material, and, as it passes through this hopper a definite quantity of themater'ial is carried forward into the interior of the bushing. The material is then subjected to lateral or radical pressure by the plunger which forces the material radially or'laterally outward into the openings. Means are provided also for readily inserting and'removing an empty and a filled bearing member, whereby the time involved in the operation of inserting the graphite compound is materially lessened. These and other objects will appear in the body of the specifications and will be specifically pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view taken on a plane indicated by the line 11 of Fig. 3, through the axis of the plunger and the bearing member in which the graphite compound is being inserted. Also showing the lower cooperating plunger for exerting a pressure in the opposite direction.

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view of the oilless bearing prior to the insertion of the graphite compound or plugs of filling material in the openings. v

Fig. 3 is a plan view on a plane represented by the line 33 of Fig. 1 showing in section the upper guideblock in which the plunger'moves, and, in dotted lines, the bearing to be filled with the graphite compound, also the movable part of the bearing holder member which receives the empty bearing shell.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows showing a portion of the two parts of the bearing holder member that retains the bearing in place while the openings therein are being filled with the graphite compound, that is to say, the fixed and movable portionv of the holder.

Referring to the drawings in detail:

1 designates a suitable hopper in which the graphite compound is placed, the compound being indicated at 2. This hopper rests upon the plunger guide block 3 which is formed with an opening or passageway 4. It is provided with the two plunger bearing members 5 and 6 and the bottom part 7 having the outlet opening 8 for the compound 2. 9 is a plunger that is reciprocated by any suitable means in the hopper which is located in the bearing members 5 and 6, as shown. The lower end of the plunger 9 passes downward through the opening 8 with its lower end formed with a conical shaped surface as indicated at 10. Located below or at the lower end of the plunger guide block member 8 is the bearing clamping member for receiving the empty shell or bearing that is to be filled. This member comprises a fixed part 11 and the movable part 12. The fixed part 11 is secured to the base piece'13 by means of the screws indicated at 14. The base piece 13 is formed with a dove tail shape guide way 15 in which is'located the corresponding shaped portion 16 of the movable member 12 of the bearing clamping block. The members 11 and 12 are each formed with a semi-circular shaped recess 17 and 18 that match with each other to form the circular opening 19, see Fig. 1, in which is inserted or placed the bearing member 20 to be filled, a sectional detail view of which is shown in Fig. 2. This member is formed with the radially arranged openings 21 which are to be filled with the graphite compound shown in the supply hopper at 2. The bearing member 20 is preferably composed of a fibrous substance, or, it may be of metal or an. alloy of difi'erent metals. The lower end of the bearing 20 rests, while being filled, upon the bottom surface 22 of the dovetail groove of the base piece 13. he base piece is formed with an openings?) that is in line with theopenin-g in the upper plunger. guide block 3 and the axial line of the bearing member 20. The base piece 13 restsdirectly upon the lower plunger guide block which block serves to support thewhole apparatus which is formed with the plunger receiving opening25. 26 is a reciprocated plungerjn the "ope in 25. Its upper end is formedwith a conical shaped end 27 Adjustably attached to this plunger is a collar 28 havinga set screw 29 in order that the upper travel of the plunger may be limited. It'is normally moved upward by means of the weight 30 which is attached to the lever 31. This lever is pivoted to a fixed support 132 andpivotally connected to the plunger 26 with the slot'pin construction Thelmovable part'12 of the bearing cl amping member is secured to the fixed part 11 by means of the two latches as which retains the part 12 in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3' when the graphite compound material is being inserted in the heari'ng box 20. H

Referring to the operation" of the machine device; It isassumed that the movable member 12 of the bearing clamp is'draw'n back into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3 by the operator grasping the two knobs or handles 35. l lhe bearing box is then'pljaced on the surface 22 of the member 13. The movable member '12 isthen movetl "to'i'iward into the full line position where it is'retained by the latches 3 1. lhe plunger 9 is now operated in anj'upwjard and downwardmovement by any suitable means and carries withit av quantity of thefgraphite compound from the hopper 1 This mate'rial is'forced down through the passage way 4: and into the'interior ofthe bearing box 29. The graphite compound is forced laterally f into theope'ning's 21indi'cat'ed by the arrows 36'. This lateral pressure is produced by the conical shaped end 10; The plunger 9 as it moves downwardfcarries with it the graphite compound which is at the same time'forced against the upper c'onical shaped end of the lower plunger 26 so that there is imparted to the compound a double lateralpressure effect. It should be understood that the plunger 26 is normally retained in the dotted lineposition 2'? so that as the plunger Qinoves downward a re actionary force is 'exertedin aniipward direction by] the plunger '26 due to the weight whichf'is attached to the plunger 26. The plunger "9' forces theplunger 26 downward to the positon indicated at 9 which: is below the lower end of the bearing box 20 which is being filled; A continued 'upwarchan'd downward movement of the plunger 9serves to'continually term the graphite compound into openings 21 until they are "completely filled and the inner surface of the bearing 20 isalso' smoothed off by the action of the plunge'rs the bearing box 20 is filled, the latches 34 are then lifted and the movable member 12 is drawn oiitwardinto the dotted-line position'which member travels in the dove tail groove 15'. Thefilled box is now removed and a new bearing box is then inserted and the operation is repeated asbefo're'.

It will therefore beseefn that 'I'h'aveproduced a very siniple aiidfetfieie'rit rrifhine for rapidly inserting the 'plugs ofgraphite compound material inthe openings 21 of tjh e bearing box 20, maalso that each-of the openings is filled undersubstantially the same lateral pressure tliroiigl' ont'theflength of the bearing box dii'e' to the 'tact-ith 'at the plunger 26 is; initiallyfi'n the position 2'? and as it is'ttor'ced downward by: the plunger 9 uniform lateral pressure istrans'mitted' to the graphite compound.

1. A 'devi ce for inserting a lubricating material in theopen'in'gs'ot an oill'ess bear ing, comprising in combination, aholder for the bearing, a hopper in 'which thefsupply of lubricating material is 'pl'aced, a' plunger for removing some of the material f r'orn'the hopper and'trans'fe'rring' itto the interiors]? the bearing and means for permitting the plunger t'o'exert a'unitorm p'ressure'onf the material in thejbush-ihg andthroughoutits length for fo'r'cing the material laterally into the openings'of the bearing.

2. In combination, a hopper to contain a lubricating substance, a plunger in the hopper, means for reciprocating the'p'lu nger in the hopper to're'moveajquantity of the substance, aholder for a 'tubularbearing memher having openings in it's" wall, ;ase'cond plunger below the tubular member but normally entering the tubulahmeinber which second plunger is forced downward-a ate first mentionedplu nger conveys then-ibis eating subst aims to the interior- "of "the tubular bearing'inember.

a Means for i j Seitihg "a graphite labseating substance ina tubular membe'rhaving openingsto'receive the substance comprising a1plunger ror eenveyingthe substance'to the interior oftheg-inember and a device for yieldingly opposingthe 'movement of the plunger in the tubular member.

4. A device for the pur es dscribdtomprisin'g a two-part holder 'for a "one piece tubular m'e'mberhav'ing lateral openings movable and yieldable means fonpreventingthe said substance from beinguriven axially through the member "Wher'eb'y'the S) and26. After the openings in substance is driven laterally into the openings of the member.

5. In combination, a hopper for containing a graphite lubricating substance, means therein for removing a definite quantity of the substance and conveying it to the interior of a bearing member, means at the lower end of said member for yieldingly opposing the substance conveying means when the lubricating substance is being conveyed into the interior of the bearing member.

6. A device for the purpose described, having in combination, a hopper to receive a graphite compound, a plunger reciprocable therein, means for retaining a bearing box to be filled with the compound in line below the plunger, means for subjecting the graphite compound to lateral pressure, whereby the same is forced into the openings of the bearing box.

In a device for inserting a lubricating graphite compound into the openings of a perforated bearing box, means for conveying the compound into the interior of the box, means for subjecting the material. in the box to a constantly yielding pressure throughout the length of the box, whereby the filling material is inserted in the openings under a uniform yielding pressure.

8. The method of inserting a granular substance into the openings of a bearing box which consists in suitably supporting the box, then forcing the material into the interior of the box against a yieldable. and

movable member that is normally located within the box, whereby the material forced radially outward, throughout the length of the box, as described.

9. In combination, a fixed and movable member, each formed with a recess which registers to form an opening to receive a bearing box which is formed with openings in its side, means for forcing a lubricating powder like material into the box, means for exerting pressure in an opposite direction to the said means whereby the material is forced radially outward under a yielding pressure and into the openings.

10. The method of filling a plurality of openings in the wall of a tubular member which consists in retaining the member in a suitable position, then conveying to the interior of the member the filling material, against a yieldable and movable member which is located within the tubular member.

11. A device for the purpose described comprising, in combination, a two part clamping member for a tubular bearing formed with openings, plunger means for conveying the filling material to the interior of the bearing to be filled, a movable plunger cooperating with said plunger, each plunger having a conical shaped end for subjecting the material there between to lateral or radial pressure for forcing the material into the openings of the tubular bearings.

LEONARD BARTLETT. 

